Radio Chatskill

Gov. Kathy Hochul released her $252 billion state budget proposal for the next fiscal year with tax cuts for the middle class and increases for the state’s mammoth Medicaid program. The price tag on this year’s budget for New York is up about four percent compared to last year. But if there’s one thing Gov. Hochul wants you to know, it’s that she thinks the state is in pretty good shape. Jeongyoon...

Joe Johnson is our resident science guy and he's bringing us a few stories that caught his eye this week, including a landmark 20-year archaeological dig in Northern Scotland has come to an end, yet discoveries continue to show its significance; scientists drilled an ice core two miles down in Antarctica, extracting 1.2 million years of the earth's climate record; and a "planet parade," in which s...

Who has the Best Burger in The Catskills? That’s what Michael Kaufman of The Catskills Crew Newsletter is trying to find out.  Kaufman appeared on Radio Chatskill to discuss his quest.  <a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/delicious-cheeseburger-with-fresh-toppings_269415773.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=0&uuid=10be4336-7c2d-4757-87f2-89146c97c0f7&new_detail=true&am...

Sullivan County legislators are expressing strong opposition to a proposed Ulster County landfill that could potentially impact the region. The proposal, put forth by the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency (UCRRA), calls for the establishment of a countywide landfill at one of two locations in the Town of Wawarsing, which includes Ellenville.  The proximity of these sites, particularly one nea...

Updated property taxes went into effect January 1 across Northeast and Central Pennsylvania and  our NPR colleagues at WVIA are reporting that residents in 11 countries will see higher property taxes in 2025. For example, Monroe County property owners face a 37% tax increase — the highest jump in the region. Taxpayers in eight counties avoided any increases into the new year, but some at the cost...

"Personal Space" is a collection of author Bizzy Coy's 20 favorite short humor pieces as previously published in The New Yorker , McSweeney's and beyond.  Coy will be read from her book at Chesters Creative in Barryville, NY, on Sunday, January 19, for a special event called "Coverstory" celebrating the fusion of literature and art  In addition  the reading, attendees will experience live art by t...

As the world grapples with an ever-increasing wave of cyberattacks, identity theft, and data breaches, experts are sounding the alarm: It’s no longer just companies or governments that need to worry about protecting their data — individuals must also take responsibility. With the threat landscape constantly evolving, the need for personal cyber defense has never been more urgent. Enter Rivka Tadje...

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul presented her agenda for the year in her annual State of the State address in Albany on Tuesday, touting middle-class tax cuts and rebates in the form of direct checks, while pledging to assign police to patrol subway cars overnight in New York City. Hochul’s address came after a tough election year for the Democratic Party across the country and an unusually strong show...

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed a tax cut, larger subsidies for child care, and a new grant to certain families after the births of their children — part of a plan to put more money in the pockets of working and middle-class New Yorkers. The Democratic governor outlined the ideas in her State of the State message Tuesday.  Radio Catskill's Jason Dole spoke to State Senator Peter Oberacker of t...

Nearly 50 residents turned out on Thursday to hear Roscoe/Manor School Superintendent John Evans address concerns and questions of residents of the newly formed school district – which faces a number of upcoming significant decisions that will be made by the future school board.  Radio Catskill's Jason Dole was there and spoke to the Superintendent of both districts, John Evans; Sullivan BOCES Sup...

On the latest episode of Kaatscast, Brett Barry interviews Silda Wall Spitzer, the former First Lady of New York,  about her new endeavor: a gourmet jam business.  Spitzer shares memories of how her jam-making journey began, her experiences as the former First Lady of New York, and her ongoing passion for sustainability and community service.  Kaatscast is a biweekly series featuring Catskills cul...

As Los Angeles endures devastating wildfires, many are left grappling with the harsh reality of a climate crisis that seems to be worsening by the day.  Amidst the destruction, one local creative voice is calling for action—not just to respond to the disaster, but to provoke thought and spark change through the power of art and storytelling. Tannis Kowalchuk of Farm Arts Collective is hosting a pr...

Fitness challenges—those 30-day programs that promise quick results—have often been met with skepticism in the health and wellness world. Maggi FItzpatrick is the Health and Wellness columnist for The Sullivan County Democrat and a fitness coach focused who has shied away from endorsing them. She says, "The challenge-driven approach can feel fleeting, and once the clock runs out, the habits we’ve...

As we step into the new year, prioritizing brain health and emotional well-being is more important than ever. Experts are continuously uncovering how various lifestyle changes can significantly enhance cognitive function, manage stress, and improve overall mental health.  We spoke to Tara McDonald, Commissioner of the Ulster County Department of Mental Health, about focusing on strategies that pro...

After five years as deputy director, Kristen Bowman Kavanagh stepped into her new role as executive director of the Delaware River Basin Commission on December 1, 2024. Kavanagh describes the DRBC as the hub of a wheel, with Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and the federal government forming its spokes.

As she prepares for her fourth State of the State address, Governor Kathy Hochul has been promoting what she calls an “affordability agenda.” Three components of that agenda involve child care.  From the New York Public News Network, WAMC's Capital Region Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports. Previewing the address, Hochul revealed plans to push for the establishment of a $110 million Child Care Constr...

Here are some facts about LEGO, the its iconic plastic construction toys:  LEGO’s founder, Ole Kirk Christiansen, created the name “LEGO” from taking the first two letters of the Danish words LEG GODT, meaning “play well“. During the Christmas season almost 28 LEGO sets are sold each second. Laid end to end, the number of LEGO bricks sold in a year would reach more than five times round the world....

New Congressman Josh Riley of New York’s 19th district was just sworn in last Friday after defeating one-term Republican Marc Molinaro in November.  Riley spoke Thursday with Ian Pickus on WAMC’s "Congressional Corner" about his recent vote with GOP and other Democrats on a bill that would detain immigrants in the country illegally for non-violent crimes like shoplifting; whether or not he will at...

As the Skinners Falls Bridge faces imminent demolition, there is growing debate over the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's (PennDOT) handling of the situation. While local advocates and cultural resource agencies have questioned the process, PennDOT insists it has followed the only feasible path available. The River Reporter spoke to Rich Roman, PennDOT District 4 executive, about the de...

Community members along the Delaware River are planning a celebration of the historic and endangered Skinners Falls Bridge on Sunday, January 12. In 2019, PennDOT shut down the Skinners Falls Bridge to vehicle traffic, citing safety concerns due to its deteriorating condition. Now, more than five years later, the bridge has further decayed to the point where it can no longer be maintained as a his...

January is National Blood Month, but winter weather disruptions are impacting efforts to maintain a strong blood supply.  That's in addition to the challenges of cold and flu season. American Red Cross Hudson Valley Executive Director John Vale told us about what is being done to address the shortages in blood donations. In an effort to encourage donations, the American Red Cross has partnered wit...

The Delaware Riverkeeper Network is calling on the Town of Highland Planning Board to hold an additional public hearing on the Camp FIMFO draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), citing a lack of proper notice and timing as required by the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR). The proposed Camp Fimfo project is a proposed campground along the Delaware River in Barryville, NY.  The name...

As state lawmakers return to Albany on Wednesday to kick-start this year’s legislative session, the focus seems to be all in one place: pocketbooks. “I don’t want to spoil anything,” Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said Friday ahead of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s State of the State speech next week. “But I think people are going to be pleased to see how much of a concentration we’re going to have on trying...

Our resident science guy Joe Johnson is back with science stories that caught his eye recently, including Pando, believed to be the largest, most dense organism ever found at nearly 13 million pounds and spread over 106 acres in Utah; the latest on The Parker Solar Probe, the NASA spacecraft studying the sun's outer atmosphere, or corona, and its impact on the solar wind; and Kessler Syndrome, a n...

The 4th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Youth Summit will take place on Friday, January 17, at SUNY Sullivan. The event is designed to empower high school juniors and seniors to become agents of change.  The summit will begin with a screening of Dr. King's "Blueprint for Life" speech, emphasizing the importance of self-belief, determination, and commitment. Students will then particip...